Molecular diagnostics is key to future

According to Frost and Sullivan, Asia-Pacific molecular diagnostics market earned a total revenue of over $846.50 million in 2012, and is estimated to reach $2,528.10 million in 2019. The market will grow rapidly owing to rising need for better healthcare services

Molecular diagnostic enables understanding of diseases at much earlier stage, which is not possible using traditional methods

China, Japan, India and Singapore are leveraging on genetic technologies to develop molecular diagnostic platform which is much more efficient and effective in tracking diseases. According to Frost and Sullivan, Asia-Pacific molecular diagnostics market earned a total revenue of over $846.50 million in 2012, and is estimated to reach $2,528.10 million in 2019.

Asia-Pacific molecular diagnostics market is poised for rapid growth owing to high prevalence of diseases, increase in the aged population, economic development, and the rising need for better healthcare services.

"Newer, automated technologies have transformed the way physicians detect and diagnose cancers and genetic diseases at an early stage," says Ms Gulifeiya Abuduxike, Frost & Sullivan healthcare industry analyst. "This has also paved way for personalized medicine, which can identify the predisposition of a patient, disease based on genetic variants, and target therapy at the right time."

Molecular diagnostic enables understanding of diseases at much earlier stage, which is not possible using traditional methods. Molecular diagnostic also facilitates understanding of gene pattern and detecting of cell behavior. Such resources prove most useful in tracking cancerous cell growth. Besides, the method is also gaining application in detection of diseases at the fetal stage and indicates any abnormalities in a child that may occur after birth.

Genetic based molecular technologies are striding ahead in Asia and several research institutes and companies are developing genetic diagnostic platform to provide cost effective, speedy and accurate diagnosis of diseases that have been so far difficult to analyze. Research institutes in China, Singapore, Japan, and India have developed some unique technologies for diagnosis of diseases at early stages, creating opportunities for disease prevention and early disease management.